Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem slammed the comments, particularly as they relate to a current call for full amnesty for any non-murderers involved in violent acts if they agree to hand over weapons.

“Syria considers the US call an encouragement for the armed groups to pursue their criminal acts,” al-Moallem said. The Syrian government has condemned protesters as “armed terrorist groups,” but in some cases they have been violent attacks not just from the regime, but from military defectors who oppose the regime.